Lighting fixture



June 23, 1959 LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed July 12, 1956 FIG. 3

[NVE/Iwan. WILL/AM o. @M0/mow w. D. o'MoRRow 2,892,074 A United StatesPatent .LIGHTING FIXTURE William D. OMorrow, La Jolla, Calif.Application (ulyV 12, 1956,- Serial No. 597,458 13 Claims. (Cl. 240-10)The present invention relates .to'lighting fixtures for gardens `andmore particularly to the' type* which is stuck into the' earth and whichis decorative, employing a translucent shade.

The `fixture is icarried by a spikeand is adjustable vertically andfrictionally heldin adjusted position.

The shade is preferably formed of a plastic such yas a fiberglass-polyester resin or formed of cellulose acetate butyrate sheetmaterial. Amember, preferably formedV of metal, has a portion .orportions thereof embeddedl in the plastic and has other portionsextending outwardly of the plastic, such outwardly extending portionsproviding a guide for the spike and vproviding a support and reector fora lamp.

The reflector lies substantially vparallel ofthe ywall ofthe shade AbutVis spaced ltherefrom to provide an air space between Aitand theshade;

Further objects and yadvantages will befappa'rent from the followingdescrip-tion, reference being' had tothe accompanying drawing wherein apreferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front view of the lighting fixture vshowing the shade andspike Tink assembled relationship;

Fig. `2 is arear/view of the `fixture shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3` vis a fragmentary sectional! view, on `la larger scale, thesection'beingta-ken on line 3-3'vof Fig. 2`; and

Fig. 4 is a 'fragmentary sectional view taken-along line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Referring more in detail to includes generally a Ashade 21 and a spike22, the spike `being used for supporting the shade infthel earth. 'I'heshade may be formed of4 any suitable material and is preferably formedof plastic. This plastic, for example, may-be ber glass-polyester resinor formed from a cellulose acetate butyrate sheet. Preferably the shadeis translucent and simulates a plant or ower; it is herein shown assimulating three leaves. A member 24, preferably formed of sheet metal,such as sheet aluminum, has two portions and 26 -thereof embedded inthe-wall or shade 21. An intermediate portion 28 extends voutwardly fromthe rear side of the wall 21. This portion 28 includes right angularlyextending upper portion 29, right angularly extending lower portion 30,and a connecting portion 31;` Theselrighbangularly)extending portions 29-and 30 are provided with aligned holes 3rand 34 for receiving theupwardly extending shank .or rod 35 vof the spike. Depressed ears 3.7`are formedv in :the interconnecting part 31 to provide retainers for aleaf spring 38. This leaf spring resiliently bears against the shank 35of the spike 22 for holding the shade in a, vertically adjustedposition.

The upper end of the embedded portion 24 merges into an outwardlyextending portion 40, which is prof vided with an opening 41 alignedwith openings 33 and 34 for receiving the upper end of the shank 35 ofthe spike 22. The portion merges with a portion 43 which extendsupwardly and substantially parallelly with the Ithe drawing, the fxturePatented June Z3, 1959 Pce wall-'or shade 21'. r'l'his portion '43 formsa reflector for the `rays of light being emitted -from'the lamp 44.

The lamp f44-is carried by a socket 45 which in turn is carried by aU-shaped spring clip 46. The springs 47 vare connected with one anotherby a yoke 48. A Ushaped slit 49`is formedin the sheet metal adjacent theupper portion 24, to forman ear 50. The yoke 48 is slid `under this ear50, and therrthe ear is bent towards the main vbody of lthe tportion 24to temporarily holdV the yoke, and-'consequently `the leaf spring, in`position while the portionsr 24 and 26 and the yoke 28 are beingembedded in the plastic. The electric cord for the lamp is shown at 51.

AsL previously stated, the reflector 43 is arranged parallelly with 'theshade 2'1, and iti will be seen from Fig. 3 that it Vis spaced from saidshade to-provide an air gap 53 for the free circulationof air betweenthe rear of the shade 21 and :the `confronting side of the reflector 43.This Vair space 53 in effect insulates the relatively high temperaturereflector from' the plastic shade. This is important since, if polyesterresinI is employed, excessive heat tends vtodisco'lor the plastic, or,if cellulose acetate butyrate is used, excessive heat deforms the same.

As seen from Fig. 13, .the reflector 43 is provided with a lightdilusing surface, a'simple form thereof being by corrugating thesurface. Preferably these corrugations lie in Vvertically spaced,horizontal planes. It will be observed from4 Fig. 3 that .the yrehectoris relatively narrow withY respect to the width o'fthe shade, and thesides of the shader-are curved rearwardly so that some of the light rays-strike thefsamev directly. -It has beenfound that, when ythe reflector43 Vis ailat surface, the shadow thereof seen through the translucentvshade `is too pronounced.V By providing the diffused surfaceon thexrellector, the shadow Aof the shade .is more diffused; that is, light:rays striking the rearfof the shade' and rebounding Ito and from thatside of the deflector, which confronts-the shade, will cause suchdiffusion as to mim'- mize the shadow of Ithe reecton While the formofembodiment herein shown andA described constitutes a preferred form,-it is to rbe understood that other forms may be yadopted falling withinthe scope of the claims that follow.

I claim:

l. YIn a lighting xture -for a garden, .in combination, a translucentwall; a spike adapted to extend into theground and supporting said wall;a lamp support; and a member having a portion stationarily embedded insaid translucent wall :and vhaving means extending outwardly of the wallfor supporting said lamp support and forming a guide adapted to receiveVsaid spike and resiliently-engage said spike `for frictionally holdingsaid translucent wall and lamp support in adjusted position on saidspike.

2. Ina-lighting fixture yfor -a' garden, inl combination, a translucentwallgfa spike adaptedto extend vinto the ground and supporting saidwall; a lamp support; and-means for supporting lsaid lamp support, saidmeans having a portion stationarily embedded yinY said translucent walland having guide .portions-outside' said wall below and above saidembedded portion, said lguide portions being adapted-y to receive saidspike, oneof said guide portions being adapted to resiliently engagesaid spike forV frictionally holding said translucentl'walll and lampsupport inf adjusted position on said spike.

3. In a lighting fixture for a garden, in combination, a translucentwall; a spike adapted to extend into the ground and supporting saidwall; a lamp support; a member forming guide means for the spike andadapted to carry said lamp support, a portion of said member beingembedded in the wall; and a spring carried by the guide means andfrictionally bearing against said spike.

4. In a lighting lixture for a garden, in combination, a

translucent wall; a spike adapted to extend into the ground andsupporting said wall; a lamp support; a member forming guide means forthe spike and adapted to carry said lamp support, an integral portion ofsaid member being embedded in the wall; and` a leaf springinterposed'between the guide means and spike for frictionally retainingthe wall in position relative to the spike.

5. In a lighting xture for a garden,'in combination, a

translucent wall; means for supportingthe wall above ground; meansforming a lamp support, said last means having a portion embedded in thewall and having a portion forming a reflector for a lamp carried by thesupport, said latter portion being spaced from the wall to provideheat-insulating space between it and said latter portion.

6. In a lighting xture for a garden, in combination, a translucent wall;means for supporting the wall above ground; means forming a lampsupport, said last means having a portion embedded in the wall andhaving an integral portion forming a reflector for a lamp carried by thesupport, said latter portion being spaced from the wall to provideheat-insulating space between it and said latter portion, said lastmeans including a portion extending transversely of the other twoportions and interconnecting the same, said interconnecting portionforming a guide for a spike.

7. In a lighting xture for a garden, in combination, a translucent wall;means for supporting the wall above ground; means forming a lampsupport, said last means having a portion embedded in the wall andhaving a portion forming a reflector for a lamp carried by the support,said latter portion being spaced from the wall to provideheat-insulating space between it and said latter portion, said lastmeans including a portion extending transversely of the other twoportions and interconnecting the same, said interconnecting portionforming a guide for a spike, said last means also including a portionspaced from said interconnecting portion, said last-mentioned portionand said interconnecting portion having aligned openings for receiving aspike.

. 8. In a lighting xture for a garden, in combination, a translucentwall; a spike adapted to extend into the ground and supporting saidwall; a lamp support; a member forming guide means for the spike andadapted to carry lamp support, a portion of said member being embeddedin the wall and a portion of said member forming a reector for a lampcarried by the support, said latter'portion being spaced from the wallto provide heat-insulating space between it and the wall.

9. In a lighting xture for a garden, in combination, a translucent wall;a spike adapted to extend into the ground and supporting said wall; alamp support; a member forming spaced guide means for the spike andadapted to carry said lamp support, said member having an intermediateportion embedded in the wall, said member'including a portion connectedwith one of the guide means and extending substantially parallel withthe wall, said latter portion being spaced from the wall to provideheatinsulating space between it and the wall.

l0. In a lighting fixture for a garden, in combination, a `translucentwall; a spike adapted to extend into the ground and supporting saidwall; a lamp support; a member forming spaced guide means for the spikeand adapted to carry said lamp support, said member having anintermediate portion embedded in the wall, said member including aportion connected with one of the guide said means and extendingsubstantially parallel with the wall, said latter portion being spacedfrom the wall to provide heat-insulating space between it and the wall;and a spring carried by the other of said guide means and frictionallybearing against said spike.

ll. In a lighting fixture for a garden, in combination, a translucentwall; a spike adapted to extend into the ground and supporting saidwall; a lamp support; a

member carrying the lamp support, said member having a portion embeddedin the wall and having portions extending outwardly from the ends of theembedded portion and outwardly of the wall, said outwardly extendingportions providing aligned guide means for the spike,

said member including a portion connected with one of the outwardlyextending portions and lying substantially parallel with the wall, saidlatter portion being spaced from the wall to provide heat-insulatingspace between it and the wall; and a leaf springY interposed between theother of said guide means and the spike for frictionally retaining thewall in position relative to the spike.

-'12. In a lighting fixture for a garden, in combination, a translucent:wall; a spike adapted to extend into the ground and supporting saidwall; a lamp support; a member Ycarrying the lamp support, said memberhaving portions embedded in the wall and having portions extendingoutwardly from confronting ends of the embedded portions and outwardlyof the wall, said outwardly extending portions providing guide means forthe spike; and a leaf spring interposed between the guide means andspike for frictionally retaining the wall in position relative to thespike, said member including another portion extending outwardly fromanother end of one of the embedded portions and extending outwardly ofthe wall, said last-mentioned outwardly extending portion forming aguide means for the spike, said last-mentioned guide means being alignedwith the other two guide means.

13. In a lighting fixture for a garden, in combination,

a translucent wall; a spike adapted to extend into the ground andsupporting said wall; a lamp support; a member carrying the lampsupport, said member having portions embedded in the wall and havingportions extending youtwardly from confronting ends of the embeddedportions and outwardly of the wall, saidV outwardly extending portionsproviding guide means for the spike; and a leaf spring interposedbetween the guide means and spike for frictionally retaining the wall inposition relative to the spike, said member including another portionextending outwardly from another end of one of theembedded portions andextending outwardly of the wall, said last-mentioned outwardly extendingportion forming a guide means for the spike, said last-men- -tionedguide means being aligned with the other two guide means, said memberincluding a portion connected with said last-mentioned guide means andextending substantially parallel with the wall, said latter portionbeing spaced from the wall to provide heat-insulating space between itand the wall.

Hertz Feb. 28, 1933 2,321,872 Szalla June l5, 1943 Moore Mar. 23, 1954

